IntroductionDuring the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the French used Indian raids to attack British colonies all along the Eastern Seaboard. These efforts succeeded in curbing British colonial expansion. In response, Britain occupied forts in upstate New York in the hope that its conventional forces would prevent Indian raids. These forts failed because they only controlled the area within musket range of their walls. The British turned to Robert Rogers and his rangers. Colonial rangers were accustomed to the deprivations of fighting in the wilderness. They had a personal interest in the war going on at home. Comfortable in the woods, the rangers fought to win. In the fall of 1759, Rogers and two hundred rangers marched 150 miles through the French-controlled wilderness to attack the Indian town of Saint Francis.1 The action was a stunning model for future special operations. raids. The ability to materialize where least expected and deliver a blow changed the dynamics of war. The British won the offensive and it was the French and their allies who had to fear the darkness at the edges of civilizations.HistoryThe raid on Saint-François can be described in terms of its socio-political context. The French, British, Indians, and colonists all had different goals and motivations. The British colonists were outcasts and religious misfits who came to the new world to escape persecution and social ills. Britain viewed the colonies as a place to send dissidents and never did well. The English settlers were not agents of the crown but settlers looking for land to start anew. The British government's primary interest in America was to protect its colonists and enable them to produce goods, including lumber, cotton, and tobacco. As a result, native... middle of paper ...... relaxed signing and pass privileges were common for rangers.13 During the raid, this sense of entitlement posed a problem. After the fall of Saint Francis, Rogers told his men to gather food for the return march. Many rangers did not respect this order and instead filled their bags with valuables. It was the right of the victor in the frontier war. Rogers' men felt they deserved a reward for their fight. The Rangers had played superbly and Rogers was loath to deny them the spoils of war. In retrospect, the food would have been a wiser choice and would have prevented many deaths. Robert Rogers and his rangers are a great example of special operations and their use. Many lessons can be learned from the raid on Saint Francis. To this day, special operations organizations trace their heritage to Robert Rogers and his use of unconventional warfare during the French and Indian War..